New York City Restaurants - Dish Buzz: Brunch at Stanton Social
Stanton Social, Lower East Side
I have only been to Stanton Social for dinner, but was curious to try their brunch. I wanted to do something I don’t usually do and come back to a restaurant I have already reviewed to give insight into some of their other offerings. My mom and I went to check it out a couple of Saturdays ago. We arrived in to a very calm restaurant around noon and watched it come alive, completely filled with patrons by 1pm.
New York City Restaurants - Dish Buzz: Cha An Japanese Tea House
Cha An Japanese Tea House, East Village
As a writer whose dog will not let her write at home, I am always in search of and appreciative of places in the city where you can write. Cha An is a great little Japanese tea house over in the East Village. Tucked on the second floor of the building and seating I’d guess only around 12-15 in total, it’s a quaint little spot perfect for writing or catching up with an old friend, or just warming up over countless pots of hot tea. It’s so quiet and serene you can totally forget how close you actually are to the raucous Saint Mark’s Place.
The tea menu here is quite extensive, noting the strength of the tea and grouping each one into one of the major classifications (black, green, oolong, pu-erh, white, or herbal). The server will continue to refill your pot as long as you are there with no additional charge. Read more »
New York City Restaurants - Dish Buzz: Momofuku Ssäm Bar
I’ve always heard much hype about Momofoku, be it the Ssäm Bar, Noodle Bar, or the ever elusive Ko, but never seemed to manage to try any of them. This past Saturday evening, a friend recommended trying Momofuku Ssäm Bar. I was curious as to how hard it would be at 8:30PM on a Saturday night to get into the restaurant. We initially walked into Noodle Bar, which was ridiculously packed, before realizing we had the wrong restaurant. We then made our way accidentally into Ko, where we were somewhat condescendingly informed we were likely looking for the restaurant a few doors down. Thanks. Ssäm was definitely not dead, but after about a 20 minute wait in their bakery area, we were seated.
New York City Restaurants - Dish Buzz: Mole
Mole - Lower East Side
I’ve walked by Mole in the Lower East Side countless times upon leaving the 2nd Avenue subway stop, but somehow had never been in. After seeing “The Wrestler” (not bad) at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema, I decided to finally give it a try. From the exterior, it does not look like a large space which proved to be true upon entering. We had to wait before we were squeezed upwards and back into the seating area of the restaurant. There was a seating area in the back left hand corner which was empty although it appeared to be set up for a larger group. There were several people squeezed into their tiny bar area and there were two two-top tables together that they finally split apart to seat us. It was quite a drawn-out process, but we were finally seated.
Tags:Dish Buzz, Enchiladas, Food, lara ruth, les, lower east side, Mole, RestaurantsAll Things New York - Concierge Corner: Winter Wonderland-ness
Hey there. Got a line-up for you, are you ready? Go out there and get ‘em in this fabulous Winter Wonderland because soon Spring showers will arrive and we all know your rain boots are tired as he** from last year. There are many events forthcoming in the next month or so. Next week’s Concierge Corner will honor all of February’s events - and be our meatiest edition yet - so be sure to check back next week for our FABULOUS FEBRUARY edition. It doesn’t matter it’s the shortest month of the year - because it’s our longest Concierge Corner post EVER!
Tags:book signings, Central Park, Concierge Corner, Events, february, hotels, january, Marissa, ny, nyc, Restaurants, sake, theatre, tours, walking tours, wineNew York City Restaurants - Dish Buzz: Crispo
Crispo - West Village/Chelsea
Crispo is one of my new favorite Italian restaurants. Initially recommended by my co-workers when I arrived in fall of 2007, it was not until this November that I finally checked it out for the first time. And recently, I went back again. After you enter, you pass through the coat check area and the hostess stand to enter into the main room; It feels nice and cozy. This is a fabulous date spot. They take reservations, which I’d recommend if you’re going at peak NY dining times (7pm+). The second time I went we were there around 6pm and were seated without a problem.
Tags:Chelsea, Dish Buzz, italian, lara ruth, pasta, reservations, Restaurants, romantic, west villageAll Things New York - Concierge Corner: Live it up!
Welcome back for the last edition under Bush’s reign. Join us next week for an Inauguration Special - I will be acting as your very own D.C. CONCIERGE. We will be highlighting what is going on in the Nation’s Capital as well as the Nation’s Hippest City (NYC if you were wondering). That is right…a double-header. Email me for requests if you are still left wondering what will be going on and where it’s happening. It’s a guide for New-Yorkers who are partying on the National level that week(end).
Keep sticking to those New Year Resolutions folks. And if you need any help - keep checking out our weekly tidbits. We will make you a better person for it. Smooches.
Tags:Concierge Corner, culture, Events, kung fu, Marissa, Music, Nightlife, parties, Restaurants, theatre, wine, wing chunNew York City Restaurants - Dish Buzz: Lantern
Lantern - Gramercy
Hope you’ve all had a great beginning to the new year, full of lots of fabulous culinary delights! To get back into full swing for 2009, I thought I’d start with sharing one of my low-key favorites, Lantern.
Compared to the flashy Manhattan restaurant scene, Lantern in Gramercy is very much a quiet neighborhood contender when it comes to Thai food. If you come at an off-peak time, you may even find the children of the owners in the restaurant as well. It’s not pretentious, the service is good and prompt, and it just feels welcoming.
Tags:Appetizers, brunch, Dish Buzz, gramercy, lara ruth, Manhattan, New York City, nyc, Restaurants, specials, thai, valueAll Things New York - Concierge Corner: Holiday Hooray Edition, with Marissa
Whether you are getting your Star of David on this holiday, or your Santa outfit (or both, like me) - there is much to celebrate in the NYC scene. Even though the economy is tight, your pockets near empty, and bonuses are put on hold this year - find at least one person in need and be charitable. It can be anything from a cup of hot cocoa to a dollar. Maybe even a pair or shoes or jacket you no longer need. It will just make your holiday that much more special. Onto the fun stuff, we will be reviewing the best places in the city to chill this next week or so. Keep an eye out for next week’s NEW YEAR EDITION. And put on some Nat King Cole, dammit.
Tags:bronx zoo, Christmas, christmas day, concierge, hannukah, ice skating, Marissa, matisyahu, Music, Restaurants, yo la tengoAll Things New York - Concierge Corner: T-Day Edition - So much to be thankful for!
As we approach Thanksgiving week - I come in peace, bearing some treats you should just absolutely gobble up this season. Turkey Day, or Tofurkey Day to some, bring with it events and sales that definitely need pre-planning. Enjoy some good old fashioned New York this week with some new hot-spots, discount shopping deals and even a way to work off the holiday-calories.
Tags:Concierge Corner, culture, Events, gifts, holidays, Marissa, museums, Music, Nightlife, nyc, Restaurants, Shopping, wine